Early life and education
Sean Mason was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He began teaching himself how to play piano at age 13, originally influenced by the music of Ray Charles. At age 15, he enrolled in the JazzArts Initiative Camp and attended Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology for high school. [3] [4] At age 17, Mason won the inaugural McGlohon Young Jazz Competition, an award that included an opportunity to perform as guest soloist with Delfeayo Marsalis. [3] [5]
In 2017, while attending UNC Greensboro, Mason met Branford Marsalis who was giving lessons there. He suggested that Mason apply to Juilliard and Marsalis told his brother (Wynton Marsalis, director of Juilliard Jazz) "Sean can really play" and to "be on the lookout for this kid." Mason was subsequently accepted and enrolled in Juilliard in 2018, moving to New York City for his studies. [5] [6] [2]
Career
In 2018, Mason began performing in New York jazz clubs as a sideman. [7] He also led the "Sean Mason Trio," featuring bassist Butler Knowles and drummer Malcolm Charles, performing at jazz venues such as Dizzy's Club and Smoke Jazz Club. In 2019, the trio maintained an "After-Hours" residency at Smalls Jazz Club. [8] [9]
In 2020, he played piano in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and in 2021, played piano in the Emmy nominated documentary, Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, as well as the Netflix film Rustin. [10] [11] In theater, Mason has been involved in various musical roles in Broadway productions such as Hadestown and Phantom of the Opera and has served as music director for The Soapbox Presents, a Harlem-based performing arts organization. [10] [12] [13]
In 2022, Mason was included in the inaugural Youngblood's class by NPR's "Jazz Night in America," described by the program as a "sub-series featuring five up-and-coming jazz geniuses who are revolutionizing the genre." [14] [15] Also in 2022, he formed the Sean Mason Quintet, featuring Tony Glausi (trumpet), Chris Lewis (tenor saxophone), Felix Moseholm (bass), and Domo Branch (drums). [16] The group was part of "Jazz at Lincoln Center Emerging Artist" initiative. [17]
In 2023, Mason released his debut album, The Southern Suite, as a leader, featuring his quintet. It was released on Blue Engine Records, Jazz at Lincoln Center's in-house label, and received favorable reviews. [18]
In 2024, he co-released Chrome Valley with poet Mahogany L. Browne, a project that blended jazz with spoken word. [19] That same year, he co-released My Ideal with vocalist Catherine Russell on Dot Time Records. The duo album received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. My Ideal also won a 2025 Bistro Award for "Outstanding Recording."
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